Visiting North Carolina Historic Sites: Fort Anderson & Fort Fisher

Located on a beautiful beach area along the Atlantic Ocean, both Fort Anderson and Fort Fisher State Historic Sites offer a look into the South's war torn past. Located south of Wilmington, North Carolina these locations make a great historic and educational side trip for those vacationing in the Myrtle Beach, SC, area or just passing through the region on either Interstate 95 or Interstate 40. Those looking to find a quiet beach to relax for a few hours will be well pleased with this area in comparison to the hustle and bustle of Myrtle Beach.

Fort Anderson was built on the location of the town of Brunswick. Brunswick was burned to the ground in 1776 during the American Revolution. Visitors to the site today can see the remains of the colonial era town as well as the Civil War era earthworks of Fort Anderson. The area today offers a Visitor Center, various exhibits, a nature trail, and picnic areas.

Fort Fisher was the home of the largest earthworks fort in the Confederate States. Fort Fisher and other area forts guarded the entrance to the Cape Fear River allowing blockade runners to move their much needed cargo safely to Wilmington and other cities and towns along the river. Both Fort Fisher and Fort Anderson held until very late in the war when the final result was already basically determined. Visitors to Fort Fisher today will find a Visitor Center showcasing various exhibits of the history of the area as well as audiovisual presentations. There are also some reconstructed emplacements to add a realistic look into life in the Civil War. A 30 minute ferry ride is needed to reach Fort Fisher. The beauty of this area's scenery makes the ferry ride pass very quickly. The Fort Fisher State Recreation Area is adjacent to the State Historic Site.

Other sites of interest in the area include: Carolina Beach State Park (camping, fishing, natural areas), Lake Waccamaw State Park, the Battleship North Carolina (WW II, public tours), and numerous small beach towns.